Cuenca

Cuenca combines culture, nature and tradition. One of the best ways to explore this city is by walking through its narrow cobbled streets full of history. Its historic center was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site as one of the best preserved in the world, with buildings dating back to the foundation of a Spanish settlement here in the 16th century.

The city is also an ideal base for visiting some of the region’s most interesting sights, like the Cajas National Park amid the Andean grasslands. If you are in search of a gift, the nearby towns of Gualaceo and Chordeleg are famous for their handicrafts. Here you can purchase the famous alpaca textiles you have often seen direct from the weavers, and pieces incorporating delicate filigree work from the jewelers who designed the pieces.